Printing device



June 15, 1937. LONG 2,084,098

PRINTING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l fizazzfi am 61 .17 3 w am A. E. LONG PRINTING DEVICE June- 15, 1937.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 195 4 five/2227 7 d/M ge- ,MZ07%mx/W' Patented June 15, 1937 PATENT OFFICE PRINTING DEVICE Albert E. Long, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Stromberg Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,675

29 Claims.

My invention relates to printing devices.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide improved means for holding the card or sheet in position during the printing operation. Speriilcaliyv my invention relates to in-and-out time recorders of a type in which the insertion of the card into the card receiver causes the printing operation. In this type of recorder. it is highly desirable to provide some means to insure in that the imprint will take placein the proper position on the card. In using these recorders, the workmen operate them very rapidly and unless adequate means are provided for holding the card during the printing operation, the workman 15 is likely to have the card partially withdrawn before the hammer strikes. My invention is designed to prevent this misplacing of the imprint.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of part of an in-and-out time recorder embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts before 95 the card is inserted;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5, showing the gripping and switch arrangement after the card has been inserted;

Fig. 4 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 3

30 after the hammer has been withdrawn and is about to be released for making the imprint; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch and card grip construction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the con- 35 struction shown comprises a card receiver I into which the workman inserts his card 2, a hammer 3 for cooperation with the type Wheels 4 for making the imprint on the card, electromagnetic means 5 for causing the withdrawal and release 49 of the hammer, manual means 6 for effecting the Withdrawal and release of the hammer which may be used in the event that the current is off or the electrical operating mechanism is out of order, a switch 7 for controlling the operation of 5 the electromagnetic means, card gripping means 8 operable substantially in synchronism with the closing of the switch 1 for holding the card in fixed position during the printing operation to insure that the imprint will be made on the desired 50 portion of the card, and a time-controlled card rest or ladder construction 9, movable periodically step by step to difierent adjusted positions in each of which the distance which the card may be inserted into the card receiver is different, 55 comprising a stepped control device engageable by the lower edge of the card when inserted into the receiver for releasing the card grip and switch to permit the card grip to grip the card and the switch to cause the energization of the electromagnet to effect the printing operation.

' The card receiver l, hammer mechanism 3, hammer operating mechanism, type wheels 4 and stair step card rest 9 may be of any suitable construction, such as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 576,636, filed November 23, 1931, of which my present application is a continuation in part. The hammer 3 has an elongated imprint portion lll to enable it to. cooperate with the type wheels in any position to which the type wheels may be shifted laterally for efiecting the lateral positioning of the printing. This hammer mechanism is rockably mounted at H and is withdrawn and released for the printing operation by means of a multiple toothed cam l2, which cam is actuated step by step, either by the electromagnet 5 or the manual lever B when it is desired to make an imprint as explained more fully hereinafter. for effecting the printing movement of the hammer when it is released from the abrupt drop on the tooth of the cam I2.

The stair step card rest 9 is rockably mounted to swing about an axis at I3 and is time-controlled to cause it to be shifted periodically to bring the steps successively into position to be engaged by the lower edge of the card when it is inserted in the receiver I. The mounting arrangement and manner of controlling this card rest in its periodic movements is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,719,000, issued July 2, 1929 to C. M. Crook.

The stepped member 3| is movably mounted on the card rest or ladder 9 by means of pin and slot connections 30' and is normally held in its uppermost position by springs 43. Mounted on the stepped member 3| are the arcuate presser bars 32 which engage the bearing fingers 35 of the rock levers 33 in .all positions of the card rest. The rock levers are connected together at 34 and, when the stepped member 3| is depressed by the insertion of a card, the levers 33 rock about pivot points 42 against the resistance of coil tension springs 31, causing the point of connection 34 to be moved downward. This movement is transmitted to the vertically movable slide 23 by the angle lever 36 which has one end connected to the rock levers at 34 and terminates at its other end in the slide 23 which is movably secured to the card receiver I by the pin and slot connection 38.

The card grip and switch construction com- A suitable spring is provided I prises a rock shaft H rockably mounted in bearings l5 on the card receiver I (see Fig. 5), a switch-controlling rock arm l6 on the rock shaft, a card-gripping rock arm I! also rockable with the rock shaft I3 and extending through an opening IS in the card receiver into engagement with the card 2 when in gripping position, a latchcarrying rock arm I! also rockabie with the rock shaft H for controlling the rocking movement thereof, a spring-held latch 23 in the form of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the latchcarrying arm is, a spring-held latch or keeper member 2| pivotally mounted on the hammer, and a keeper-controlling book 22 pivotally mounted at 39 on the vertically movable slide 23 which is controlled Jointly by the insertion of the card and by the actuation of the hammer.

The switch-controlling rock arm l5 lies underneath the end of the upper spring contact member 24. When this switch-controlling rock arm I is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it holds the contact on the upper leaf spring of the switch out of engagement with the lower leaf spring of the switch. When, however, the keeper or latch member 2| on the hammer is withdrawn from engagement with the latch member 20 on the rock shaft controller rock arm IS, the spring 25 snaps the rock shaft I4 and the rock arms l5 and I1 carried thereby into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the card-holding rock arm II engages the card to hold it in definite position and in which the switch-controlling rock arm I is moved downwardly to permit the engagement of the contacts of the switch to close the circuit controlling the hammer operating electromagnet 5.

In the operation of the device, the workman inserts his card into the card receiver I until the lower edge of the card engages one of the steps of the member 3|, which as previously explained is movably mounted on the card rest or ladder 9. The engagement of the card with member 3| causes the latter to be depressed, swinging the levers 33 about pivot points 42 and causing the common point 34 to be lowered as has also been explained. This downward movement is transmitted to the movable slide 23 by lever 36. The keeper controlling hook 22 moves downward with slide 23' and rotates the latch or keeper member 2| about its pivot on the hammer, causing the hook to disengage the latch 20. The spring 25 shape the rock shaft I4 and the rock arms I 6, l1 and I 5 carried thereby to the position shown in Figure 3 in which the downward movement of lever l5 has allowed the contacts 24 to close, thereby completing the circuit to electromagnet 5.

The energization of the electromagnet 5 causes the rock lever 25 to swing about its shaft 5|. A pawl 45 is pivotally mounted on rock lever 25 at 45 and is held in engagement with cam 44 by spring 41. Cam 44 is mounted on shaft 50 together with cams 2. The downward movement of the left hand portion of rock lever'25 causes pawl 35 to engage atooth on cam 44 and rotate shaft 50 and cams |2 in a counter clockwise direction. The follower shaft 48 is provided with a roller or rollers which ride on the teeth of cams 2. As the cams are rotated the hammer mechanism is swung about its pivot point against the tension of spring 53 until the follower shaft and .rollers drop oi! oi the point of the cam teeth. The hammer is then snapped forward for the printing blow by spring 53. The latter part of the printing movement is due to the momentum of the hammer as pointed out later. When the circuit to electromagnet 5 is opened as explained hereinafter, rock lever 25' returns to its normal position allowing pawl 45 to engage the succeeding tooth on cam 44 in preparation for the succeeding printing operation.

In the withdrawn position of the hammer, the control mechanism for the card grip and switch assumes the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the card grip i1 is still engaged and the switch contacts are still in engagement but in which the latch or keeper member 2| on the hammer is withdrawn from the actuating hook 22 and the actuating hook 22 is withdrawn so as to be out of the path of the latch or keeper member on the printing movement of the hammer to prevent any possibility of the hook mem v ber 22 re-engaging the keeper member 2| on the printing movement and to prevent injury to the hook member 22 from being struck by the keeper member. This withdrawal of the actuating hook 22 out of the path of the latch or keeper member is efi'ected by means of a link 25" pivotally secured at its lower end to the hammercontrolling rock lever 25 and having a lost-motion connection at 25 with the hook lever 22. This lost-motion connection at 25 permits the necessary movement of the slide under the action of the inserted card for moving the keeper member 2| downwardly to release the latch member 20. On the movement of the hammer toward the card, the keeper or latch member 2| on the hammer rides underneath the latch member 20 on the rock shaft controller arm IS.

The final printing movement of the hammer is due to its own momentum, as the hammer is made in two parts, the upper part 25 being pivotally connected to the lower part 21 at 28 and normally held in the relative position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the spring 29. On the printing movement of the hammer, however, the momentum of the upper part of the hammer stretches the connecting spring 29 between the two hammer parts and the upper part of the hammer flies forward under its own momentum, moving about the pivotal point 28 until it strikes the card 2 to effect the printing operation, whereupon it rebounds under the action of the connectingspring 29 to assume again the position shown in Fig. 2. On this rebound movement, the keeper or latch member 2| on the hammer hooks against the latch member 20 on the rock arm l9 and withdraws this rock arm to bring it back again to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the switch is opened and the card grip is released. The release of the magnet raises the link 25 so that hook lever 22 is again free to move forward under the influence of spring 4| to reengage the latch member 2|.

In case the workman does not immediately remove his card but holds it in the card receiver so as to keep the stepped member 3| in its lower position, the movable slide 23 will be held in its lower position as shown in Figure 3. The keeper member 2| will reengage latch 20 and move it to the right thereby opening the circuit to magnet 5 during the return movement of the hammer after it has eifected its printing blow. The hook member 22 is permitted to rotate in a clockwise direction to its normal position on slide 23 as soon as link 25 is raised by the release of the magnet. However, since slide 23 is held in its lower position by the workmans card which is still depressing stepped member 3|, the hooking edge of hook 22 will not reengage the lateral 1y extending pin .on keeper member 2| but will] lie below'this pin. This prevents chattering ora plurality of printing operations for a single insertion of a card since it is onlywhen the-cardis removed and the slide 23 allowed to assume its uppermost position that the hook 22 will en'-' gage the pin on keeper member 2| and thereby again place the mechanism in condition to. re

spond to the insertion of a card. Thus the contacts. 24, after being opened by the printing oper ation, cannot again be closed until the card has been removed to allow hook 22 to reengage keeper member 2|.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that my invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my. invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing construction includingprinting means for printing on a sheet' and sheetcontrolled means for causing the printing operation, means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation, and means controlled by said v sheet-controlled means for causing said gripping means to assume grippingposition in definite time relation with respect to the printing positioned on the sheet and sheet-controlled means for causing the printing operation, means for gripping the sheet during the printing 'oper-,

ation, control means for the gripping means actuated by said positioning means, and means controlled by said printing means for moving said I gripping means to non-gripping position in definite time relation with respect to the printing operation.

3. In a printing construction comprisingprinting meansfor printing on a.sheet, ;inclu ding an impression member, an electromagnet for furnishing power for actuating the impression member and a switch for controlling said electromagnet, means for gripping the-sheet duringthe printing operation, and means for controlling said gripping means indefinite time relation with respect to the operation-of the switch.

4. In a printing construction comprising means for printing on a' sheet, including an impression member, an electromagnet for furnishing power for actuating the impression member and a switch for controlling-the electromagnet, means for gripping the sheet during the printing oper ation, and means for releasing said gripping means in definite time relation with respect to the operation of the switch.

5. A printing construction comprising an im: pression member, an electromagnet for furnishing powerfor actuating the impression member, a switch for controlling the electromagnet,a rock shaft, control means for said switch mounted on said rock shaft, and gripping means for holding the sheet during the printing operation also mounted on said rock shaft.

6. A printing construction comprising means for printing on a sheet, sheet-controlled means for causing the printing operation, means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation, and a latch for holding the gripping means out of gripping engagement with the sheet.

7. A printing construction comprising printing including print me nsf'fer' printing on a sheet, means for causing the printing to be variably positionedon the sheet, meansfcontrollejd by the insertion "1 or the sheet into engagement with said positioning means for causing the printing operatiommeans for gripping thesheet during the printing operation,, and sheet released means for latching the grippingfmeans out of gripping engagement with the sheet.

8. A'printing construction comprising printing means ior printing on a sheet, means controlled by: the 'sheet for causing the printing operation,

meansfor gripping the sheet during the printing operation, a sheet-released latch for holding the gripperout of its grippingpositlon prior to-the printing operation, and means controlled by said printing means for relatching the gripping means in non-gripping position. A

9. Ina printing construction for printingon a sheet, a sheet-controlled movable, impression:

member for eifecting T'the printing operation, means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation, and a latch mechanism comprising means carried by the movable impression member non-grippingv for-holding the gripping means in position. e

'10. In aconstruction for printing on a sheet, a sheet-controlled movable impression member for eflecting the printing operation, means for.

ing on asheet, means controlled by the sheet for i causing thev printing operation, gripping means for holding the sheet during the pri'nting'operation, latch means for holding the gripping means in non-gripping position, and means for releasing-the latch comprising a hook'cooperating therewith controller. bythesheet.

i 12. A construction .cmprising meansfor printing on a sheet, means for gripping the sheetduring the printing operation,latching means for I holding the gripping means in non-gripping position, and sheet-controlled means for releasing the latching means and for causing the printing operation.

13. A printing construction comprising means for printing on a sheet including sheet-controlled 7 means for causing'the printing operation, means for gripping the sheet during the printingo'peration, latch means for holding the gripping means f in'non-gripping position, a hook cooperating 5 with said latching means for releasingit, and

means controlled by the printing means for conv trolling said hook.

14. In a printing construction, a mo'vable im-' pression member, sheet-controlled means for I causing the movement of said impression memberto effect the printingoperation, means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation,

latchmeans for holding the grippingmeans in A non-gripping position, a sheetacontrolle-d hook for releasing thelatching means, and means controlled by the movement of the impression mem-' ber for holding the hook out of cooperative relation with respect to the impression member during the printingoperation.

15. A printing construction comprising means for printing on a sheet, an electromagnet for furnishing power for the printing operation, a switch for controlling the electromagnet, means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation, and means for moving said'gripping means to non-grippin position in deilnite time relation with respect tothe switch opening.

16. In a printing construction, means for printing on a sheet including sheet-controlled means for controlling the printing operation and means for gripping the sheet during the printing operation comprising a spring dog gripper and a sheet-controlled latch for holding the dog gripper in non-gripping position. 1

17. A printing construction comprising means for printing on a sheet including sheet-controlled means for controlling the printing operation, means for causing the printing to be variably positioned on the sheet. means for gripping the sheet duringthe printing operation, and means controlled by said positioning means when engaged by the bottom edge of an inserted sheet in any 01' its printing positions-tor controlling said gripping means.

18. A printing constructioncompris'ing printing means for printing on a sheet, positioning means for positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, and means controlled by I said positioning means when engaged by an inserted sheet for locking the sheet in position. J

19. A printing construction comp sing Printing means for printing on a sheet, a movable abutment for limiting the insertion of the sheet to variably position the sheet with respect to said printing means, and means controlled by said abutment when engaged by a sheet in any oi. its. positions for locking the sheet against retraction.

20. A printing construction comprising printing means for printing on a sheet, positioning means for positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, means controlled by said positioning means when engaged by an inserted sheet i'or locking the sheet in printing position, means for eilecting the printing operation, and means responsive to the printing operation for releasing the sheet.

21.- A printing construction comprising printing means for printing on a sheet, positioning means for positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, and means controlled by said positioning means when engaged by an inserted sheet for locking the sheet in printing position and for effecting the printing operation.

22. A printing construction comprising printprinting ing means for printing on a sheet, positioning means for positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, electric power means for eilecting the printing operation, and means controlled by said positioning means when engaged by an inserted sheet for locking the sheet against retraction and for completing a circuit to said electric power means.

23. A printing construction comprising printing means for printing on a sheet, positioning means for positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, electric power means for eiIecting the printing operation, means controlled by said positioning means when engaged by an inserted sheet for locking the sheet in printing position and for completing a circuit to said electric power means, and means responsive to the printing operation for releasing the sheet and for opening the circuit to said electric power means.

24.,A printing construction comprising means answer.

for printing on a sheet including a movable impression member, positioning means for variably positioning the sheet with respect to said printing means, an electromagnet for operating said impression member to perform the printing operation, means responsive to the engagement oi said positioning means in any of its positions by the edge of a sheet for locking the sheet against retraction andior completing a circuit for said electromagnet, and means controlled by said impression member for releasing the sheet and for opening the circuit to said electromagnet.

25. In a card recorder, printing means for printing on a card inserted in said recorder, variable positioning means for limiting the depth of insertion of the card, and means responsive to the engagement of a card with said positioning means in any of its limiting positions for locking the card against retraction and for eil'ecting the printing operation.

26. In a card recorder, printing means for printing on a card inserted in said recorder, variable positioning means for limiting the depth of insertion of the card to cause the imprint to be variably positioned on the card, card-controlled means including said positioning means for eil'ecting the printing operation, and means for preventing withdrawal of the card efiective from the instant the card engages said positioning means until said printing operation has. been completed to insure the proper positioning of the imprint on the card.

27. In a card recorder, printing means for printing on a card inserted in said recorder, means for positioning the card with respect to said printing means, electric power means for efiecting the printing operation, a circuit for said electric power means, means for locking the card in printing position during the printing operation, and means for simultaneously rendering said locking means efl'ective and closing said circuit.

28. In a card recorder, printing means for printing on a card inserted in said recorder, movable positioning means for variably limiting the depth of insertion of a card to secure imprints on diil'erent portions of the card, electric power means responsive to the engagement of said positioning means in any of its limiting positions by the edge of an inserted card for effecting the printing operation, means for locking the card in printing position, and means for operating and for releasing said locking means in definite time relation to the printing operation.

29. In a card recorder, printing means inc1uding a movable impression member, positioning means for variably positioning a card inserted in said recorder to secure imprints on different portions of the card, electric power means for operating said impression means to effect the printing operation, means for locking the card in printing position during the printing operation, means controlled by the insertion of a card into engagement with said positioning means for simfiltaneously operating said locking means and com pleting a circuit to said electric power means, and

means controlled by said impression member for simultaneously releasing said locking means and opening the circuit to said electric power means.

ALBERT E. LONG. 

